Dear Lifehacker, Let's say, just a hypothetical, that you have a newspaper that you want to save for posterity. Anyone have any tips on doing so, cheaply? Signed, Give 'Em Hell Harry

Dear Harry, "Just a hypothetical?" Be honest — it's not every day that you get to vote to bond a high-speed rail project, and the victory of California's Proposition 1A is a historic event. How to preserve the once-in-a-lifetime headlines? There are a number of tips, many of which apply to any form of paper document preservation.First off, you don't want to leave the paper folded in the middle— you'll want to lay it out flat, as creases and folds where paper meets paper will break down over time. Secondly, you'll want to keep it away from direct light and moisture. In the former case, the paper will discolor and the inks fade. In the later, the paper can mildew or, if it contacts water directly, turn into pulp. More basic tips can be found at eHow. Newsprint and other papers have acid in them, and when those acids interact with the environment the paper will break down. You can either try to de-acidify the paper or protect it. You can soak the paper in a bath of milk of magnesia, or use an acid-neutralizing spray like Archival Mist. Another option is to wrap it in acid-free tissue paper and lay it out in a long, flat box, as recommend by HistoryBuff. You'll want the paper fully-wrapped in acid-free tissue if the box itself isn't acid free. For acid-free paper and boxes, order from ArchivalUSA and other purveyors of stationary, art and scrapbooking supplies. If you're just interested in keeping a clipping, you can also preserve it in plastic. Most copy-shops will laminate the front page for you inexpensively, though it may destroy any potential value for collectors. The aptly-named BagsUnlimited sells full-size archival mylar sleeves for a full sheet of newspaper, though it won't protect from light and can trap moisture. Things don't get really expensive until you want to actually put a newspaper on your wall (preferrably one that doesn't get direct sunlight). You can can buy stock frames or have one custom-made inexpensively by ThePaperFramer. But imagine how you'll feel when your grandchildren point to the headline on the wall and marvel, "Wow, you were there when they passed that bond measure?" May your future news be bright and crisply printed, Lifehacker